2007 St. Patrick's Luncheon in New York

It is anchored in our Council calendar just like St. Patrick's Day on March 17 is
a durable and immutable part of the Irish-American tradition in New York City each
year.

The Council's annual St. Patrick's Week luncheon was hosted in New York City the
day before the big day - on Friday, March 16. Council President Michael J. Gibbons
welcomed the members and guests of the Council at a sold-out luncheon meeting at
the Metropolitan Club in New York. We will not mention the snowstorm.

The Guest of Honor at the luncheon was Mary Coughlan, Ireland's Minister for Agriculture
& Food who addressed the gathering and presented greetings from Ireland. The Minister
described in brief detail current developments in Ireland's food industry and encouraged
the development of ever-closer business links between America and Ireland.

A special presentation on behalf of the Council was made to Ambassador Consul General
Tim O'Connor who was making his last appearance in his official role representing
the Irish Government at a Council event in the United States. Ambassador O'Connor
was appointed Secretary General of the Department of the President of Ireland in
Dublin and took up his new position the following week.

The entertainment performance for the occasion featured excerpts from The Pirate
Queen, a new Irish entertainment extravaganza that had just opened on Broadway.

The date for next year's St. Patrick's Luncheon in New York has been set by the
Council for Friday, March 14, 2008.

Ambassador Ray Flynn, the former Mayor of Boston was the Grand Marshal of the St.
Patrick’s Day Parade in New York, with Nora O’Donnell of NBC Television and Joe
Byrne, Executive Vice President of Tourism Ireland.